City Dock vision urged
Ex-Charleston mayor frames critical issues as talks progress
Former Charleston Mayor Joe Riley is helping frame the effort to rethink City Dock as work continues on the broad discussions to fashion the city waterfront’s future.
“Don’t make stupid mistakes. It’s is hard not to do. You must remain vigilant … Put your city in the context of time, because you are creating something for generations,” he told a recent gathering at Maryland Hall. “You have to keep the buildings, the texture ... the human scale. You have to keep the memories alive, you have to keep the sense of place.”
His recent talk was focused on general Riley themes about reinvigorating and re-imagining urban cultural landscapes. Some of Riley’s comments could have been pulled from the most recent study city leaders have embraced.
The Urban Land Institute report encouraged re-imagining City Dock adding park space, encouraging investing in redevelopment and new activities while maintaining existing zoning and addressing sea-level rise. It also suggested a working group of stakeholders like the City Dock Action Committee which met again May 23.
Riley, who served a nearly unheard of 10 terms in office, told the story of his home city and how with his guidance, and at times stubbornness, the grandest city of the antebellum South was resurrected after years of neglect and economic hardship.
The city benefited from the continuum of his 40-year tenure as it kept its commitment to historic preservation while addressing urban issues of economic decline and stratification.
But it was grounded in a deep commitment to beauty, place, memories and See WATERFRONT, page 5
“Don’t make stupid mistakes. It’s is hard not to do. You must remain vigilant … Put your city in the context of time, because you are creating something for generations,” he told a recent gathering at Maryland Hall. “You have to keep the buildings, the texture ... the human scale. You have to keep the memories alive, you have to keep the sense of place.”
His recent talk was focused on general Riley themes about reinvigorating and re-imagining urban cultural landscapes. Some of Riley’s comments could have been pulled from the most recent study city leaders have embraced.
The Urban Land Institute report encouraged re-imagining City Dock adding park space, encouraging investing in redevelopment and new activities while maintaining existing zoning and addressing sea-level rise. It also suggested a working group of stakeholders like the City Dock Action Committee which met again May 23.
Riley, who served a nearly unheard of 10 terms in office, told the story of his home city and how with his guidance, and at times stubbornness, the grandest city of the antebellum South was resurrected after years of neglect and economic hardship.
The city benefited from the continuum of his 40-year tenure as it kept its commitment to historic preservation while addressing urban issues of economic decline and stratification.
But it was grounded in a deep commitment to beauty, place, memories and See WATERFRONT, page 5
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